Cavendish claims third stage win

Published: Thursday, 17 July 2008, 9:43PM

British cyclist Mark Cavendish has clinched his third stage victory in the Tour de France.

He crossed the line first, with a huge group of 128 riders in hot pursuit at the end of the 169km stage from Lavelanet to Narbonne.

The 22-year-old from the Isle of Man is stuck in 156th place in the overall competition after 12 stages.

But he is the first-ever British cyclist to win three stages of the race in a single year.

Cadel Evans of Australia is the overall leader.

But the stage was disrupted by a drug scandal and the Saunier-Duval team has pulled out of the race after it was revealed their rider Riccardo Ricco had tested positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO.

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